Happy Birthday GramAnna!

Today is my wonderful, beautiful Gram's 92nd birthday. Gram has inspired me in so many ways with her energy, creativity and her positive outlook on life. I have so many happy memories of spending time with her during our summer trips to Maine. I think my favorite memories are the small ones – helping her dry dishes after meals, walks down Pott’s Point, the grown ups having drinks on the porch while I explored the chest of family memories, picking blueberries for buckle (best dessert ever!)

She always let me have free run of her fabric stash – a true gift to a budding little sewer! And her stories, I love her stories. About fifteen years ago she started writing down stories, vignettes from her life and sending copies to the family. It has been such a wonderful gift for us and for future generations. I cherish each and every one, rereading them often. From the everyday to the momentous, I love having a chance to know so much about her life.

Gram wearing a suit she made.

I was so glad to have her meet M, the newest little branch on our family tree, in May. M is a carbon copy of my husband – we joke about needing a “maternity test” – but every so often I see a little glimpse of Gram in him. Something about the way he looks at you and the set of his nose. And it always makes me smile.

So, happy, happy birthday Gram! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Gram with her four daughters.

Baby vs. Hummus (the video!)

Note to self: buy more hummus...

(Note how M offers me a taste at the end. Sweet, but kinda gross.)

Walking

About two seconds before he was kicking the ball across the room, but I missed the shot!

Weekending

This weekend my brother came to visit from SF. It was such fun to see him. He hasn't seen M in about five months, and he is much more interesting now. (And by "he" I mean M, my brother has always been interesting!)

Sunday was another hot day in NJ, but threatened rain, so instead of the town pool we filled up the kiddy pool and splashed about. Lots of fun!

Sunday night, M had mango with dinner. He didn't let me finish peeling before he attacked it. Apparently, he likes mango as much as hummus.

Baby vs. Hummus

I gave M hummus on toast and, to put it lightly, he liked it...

(When he was done licking the hummus off the toast he put it on his head. Silly, sweet little boy.)

I think he would have preferred it if I gave it to him with a spoon!

Challenges of Childrearing

This morning at breakfast I gave M slices toast with jam, strips of chicken sausage and fruit. A yummy little breakfast for a growing boy. And a bit of a treat, because I don't usually give him such salty food. He took one look at it and then systematically dropped each piece over the edge of his highchair tray and onto the floor. For some reason I found it absolutely hilarious. Something about his serious expression or perhaps it was because it was 6am and my sweet boy woke me up at 4am... It was so hard not to laugh, but I was afraid if I laughed, he would know I was laughing at his actions and then dropping food would become even more of a game. I know he's just exploring, but I would rather this not become an every meal occurrence. I've learned my lesson, he gets annoyed if we don't play "so big" at the start of every meal. It was cute at first, but it can get a wee bit tiresome. *grin* So, I bit my lip, laughed in my head and gave M extra kisses for his cuteness after I wiped him down.

I love being this little boy's mama!

No pictures from this morning (did I mention he woke me up at 4am?) but this is a picture from the first time he had solid food.

Weekending

We had a quiet weekend. I had to work on Friday and Saturday night, so we stayed close to home. Lots of swimming and trips to the park. And lots of chores completed! J replaced our grungy old basement sink and I conquered Mount Laundry. M spent lots of time looking cute. He's very good at it.

M's latest favorite toy is the baby gate at the foot of the stairs. He absolutely loves opening and closing any door, but the gate is at just the right height for him.

"Will you open the gate Mama? Please?"

(this picture makes me want to wake him up for a cuddle. So tragic!)

Wanna swing?

While swinging he was making a "lalalalala" sound with his tongue (I can't describe it, but I remember doing it when I was little. It was pretty cute.)

I love this picture because he looks less like a baby and more like a little boy. (Also the reason I hate this picture...)

And, I love this one, because he's still my baby, and oh boy does he love his blankie.

I had a twinge of "my baby's growing up," when we went to the local playground on Sunday. It was the first time I let him out of the stroller to play. We ran into one of our neighbors and his three-year-old daughter. M had such fun following her around the playground and trying to do everything she did. It was so sweet. But a little sad. My teeny, tiny baby wears shoes and plays with other kids at the playground!